Things have changed drastically for the Topsail High School sports teams with the move from the 2A level to the 3A level, and the subsequent move into the Mideastern 3A/4A Conference with tough 4A teams Ashley, Hoggard, Laney and New Hanover, and the other two 3A teams (South & West Brunswick) in the area.
Topsail’s best chance to be competitive over the winter will come in the form of the wrestling team, although a new coach (Justin Armstrong) will have a tough task following in the footsteps of Jake Pence, who led the competitive Pirates’ wrestling program for the past several years.
Armstrong comes to Topsail from Okinawa, Japan, where he coached a team to a 13-2 record. He takes over a Pirates team that finished second to ever-powerful Croatan with a 13-2 record last year in the East Central 2A Conference.
“We are very solid from 145 pounds and up,” Armstrong said. “We are inexperienced below the 145 weight class, but we are hoping newcomers like Dylan Blake (106), Blake Reese (126), and Jacob Schaus (138) can make an early impact.”
Leading the way will be sophomore Joseph Sculthorpe, who was second in the state last year at 215 pounds. Sculthorpe is strong and fundamentally sound, which is sometimes rare and very important at the heavyweight class. He has the potential to be one of the best in the state at the 3A level, Armstrong said.
Robert Sculthorpe, who was a 2A regional champion last year, is back and he is penciled in at 160 pounds. Matt Schaefer was third in the region last year, and he is schedule to go at 182 pounds.
Newcomer Patrick Channell will be solid at 145, Henry Vernon gives Armstrong experience at 170, and Joe Suggs, a former state qualifier, will be at 190. Solid at the bottom half of the lineup are Catherine Herring (113), who nearly qualified for states last year, and Aaron Kapiko (120).
Armstrong is also hoping for contributions from Cody Howell (heavyweight), Alec Russell, who will compete with Herring for time at 113, and Evan Schwarz (152), as well as newcomers Jacob Raynor, Christian Scarberry, Bryce Teachey and Hunter Kaufman.
Boys basketball
Jeff Gainey enters his fifth year as the head man of the Topsail boys program and he will have to continue without the services of several talented players–among them Tyler Hagen, Trevor Savidge, Jarrin Sullivan, and Matt Gilgo–all of whom have departed via the graduation route from a team that finished 12-14 overall and 6-8 in the East Central 2A Conference.
The only returnee with varsity experience is Jake Sullivan, and he will definitely have to assume the leadership role for Gainey.
“Right now we don’t have many strengths since we have six juniors and a combination of six sophomores and freshmen on the varsity,” Gainey said. “We need to take care of the basketball, play defense, box out, and trust each other.
“In the conference you have to look at Hoggard and New Hanover as the top contenders, although there are no real weak links. We just want to get better every day, and if we do that winning or losing will take care of itself.”
Sullivan will need to be the rock at the outset of the season while younger players like junior Riley Ball and freshman Kodiak Bowling develop and get used to the varsity level of basketball.
Gainey is also hoping for rapid development from 5-foot-8 sophomore Drew Bagwell.
Girls basketball
Jim Clanahan starts his second season as head coach for the Lady Pirates as they attempt to rebound from a 6-16 (2-12 conference) season against some multi-talented–and well-coached–teams like Ashley, Hoggard, Laney, and New Hanover.
It could be a tough task for his young group of players who have displayed some talent (1-1 entering December) in the early going, yet lack that varsity knowledge and experience.
Leading the way will be sophomore Keri White, who will play the point guard position. Senior Chandler Skipper will have to fill the leadership role and help White in the scoring column.
Inside sophomore Amberlyn Wolf has shown some early signs of becoming a force on the boards and on defense. Her size will allow her to grab some offensive rebounds and score as long a she can avoid foul trouble and stay on the floor. Junior Camen White will give the Lady Pirates a decent inside presence.
Two sophomores will be crucial to Topsail’s success–Payton Schoenleber and Dominique Bryant. Schoenleber is a solid ball-handler, has a good outside shot, can go to the basket and both score and rebound, and is solid defensively.
Bryant is quick as a cat, perhaps the Lady Pirates’ strongest on-ball defender, and a solid ball-handler. Carmen White and Carolyne Evrley will supply some skill and hustle off the bench.
